Diastolic pressure in type 2 diabetes: can target systolic pressure be reached without "diastolic hypotension"?

The practicality of vigorous lowering of systolic pressure in diabetes to <130 mmHg remains uncertain. Baseline blood pressure data from several recent trials indicate that, in diabetic subjects, there is nearly a fourfold excess in systolic pressure (the difference between baseline pressure and target pressure) over diastolic pressure with respect to the recommended systolic/diastolic target pressure of <130/80 mmHg. Additionally, systolic pressure was 2-3 mmHg higher and diastolic pressure was 1-3 mmHg lower in diabetic hypertensive than in nondiabetic hypertensive individuals, which adds approximately 4 mmHg to pulse pressure and also to the difference between the excess systolic and excess diastolic pressure. We attempted to force (titrate both systolic and excess diastolic pressure) systolic and diastolic blood pressure to <130/85 mmHg based on Joint National Committee VI guidelines in the setting of a clinical practice in 257 diabetic patients. Although target systolic pressure was attained in a third of this cohort, in 57% of the patients, the attained diastolic pressure was 相似文献   

Uncontrolled hypertension is associated with a rapid progression of nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients with proteinuria and preserved renal function

The relationship between blood pressure and progression of nephropathy was studied (the mean follow-up period of 32.6 +/- 17.9 (S.D.) months in 20 Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients with clinical nephropathy (proteinuria greater than 0.5 g/day) and preserved renal function (serum creatinine level less than 150 mumol/liter). Fifteen hypertensive patients under antihypertensive treatment were divided into 2 groups: those with the mean diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg and/or the mean systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 150 mmHg during the follow-up period were designated as Group A (n = 6) and the remainders as Group B (n = 9). Five normotensive patients without any anti-hypertensive treatment throughout the follow-up period served as a control group (Group C). The decline rate in GFR was significantly greater (p less than 0.05) in Group A (1.15 +/- 0.39 (S.E.) ml/min/month) than those in Groups B (0.33 +/- 0.08 ml/min/month) and C (0.40 +/- 0.09 ml/min/month), respectively. The decline rate in GFR showed significant positive correlations both with systolic (rS = 0.553, p less than 0.05) and diastolic (rS = 0.493, p less than 0.05) blood pressures in the 15 hypertensive patients. The age, initial glomerular filtration rate, duration of diabetes and mean HbA1c level during the observation period were comparable in Groups A, B and C, respectively. The results indicate that an uncontrolled hypertension is associated with a rapid progression of kidney impairment in Type 2 diabetic patients with overt nephropathy, as has been suggested in Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.     

Blutdruck Zielwerte auf dem Pr��fstand

There is little evidence from controlled prospective studies to support the low blood pressure goals stipulated for the treatment of hypertension by present guidelines, especially in high-risk patients with diabetes, renal insufficiency or coronary heart disease. Aim of this review is to scrutinize the potential benefit and risk of low blood pressure on the basis of recent studies and secondary analyses of older studies. RESULTS: In patients with coronary heart disease or equivalent or with diabetes lowering systolic blood pressure to 130 to 135 mmHg reduced primary or secondary cardiovascular endpoints in the majority of studies. Between 120 and 129 mmHg some positive effects could be shown in patients with coronary heart disease but not in patients with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. In patients with diabetic or nondiabetic nephropathy including those with proteinurea no convincing data exist which show a better outcome with systolic blood pressure below 130 versus below 140 mmHg. However, several studies suggest that the risk of stroke may decrease by lowering systolic pressure to 120 mmHg or even lower. Below 120 mmHg an increased risk of cardiac and noncardiac events or death was shown in quite a number of studies. In patients between 70 and 80 years, current evidence suggests lowering systolic blood pressure to 135 to 145 mmHg and in those above 80 years to 145 to 155 mmHg. No evidence was found to justify different diastolic pressure goals for different groups of patients; optimal values fall between 70 and 85 mmHg. Limitations of recent studies are short follow-up, few event rates and small differences in achieved pressure between groups leaving uncertainty about long-term effects. PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES: Apart from prevention of stroke there is sparse evidence that lowering systolic blood pressure below 130 mmHg may be beneficial. Current evidence suggests that lowering systolic and diastolic pressure into a range of 130 to 140/70 to 85 may be adequate for all patients with the exception of children, adolescents and patients over 80 years. Further lowering of systolic pressure seems to offer little additional benefit and lowering diastolic pressure below 70 mmHg might increase risk.     

Effects of nisoldipine and lisinopril on left ventricular mass and function in diabetic nephropathy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of the calcium channel blocker, nisoldipine, and the ACE inhibitor, lisinopril, on left ventricular mass (LVM) and systolic function in type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: M-mode echocardiography was performed in 50 hypertensive type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy enrolled in a 1-year, randomized, double-blind, parallel study of antihypertensive treatment with nisoldipine CC (20-40 mg/day) or lisinopril (10-20 mg/day). Ambulatory 24-h blood pressure was measured with the Takeda TM 2420 device (A & D, Tokyo, Japan) every 3 months. Three patients dropped out and seven patients were excluded due to technical difficulties. RESULTS: The 24-h diastolic blood pressure was reduced from 83 to 80 mmHg in the nisoldipine group (P = 0.06) and from 85 to 80 mmHg in the lisinopril group (P = 0.02). The decline in systolic blood pressure was not significant with any of the two treatments, and no difference in reduction of blood pressure was seen between groups. LVM corrected for body surface area (LVMI) was comparable between groups at baseline and increased from 96 +/- 5 to 107 +/- 6 g/m2 (mean +/- SEM; P = 0.007) in the nisoldipine group and from 95 +/- 4 to 103 +/- 5 g/m2 (P = 0.03) in the lisinopril group. The mean difference between the change in LVMI in the two groups was 2.9 (95% CI 6.8 to 12.7) g/m2. The prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy rose from 18 (95% CI 6-30) to 30% (16-44) during the study period. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that after 1 year of treatment, LVMI increased with higher systolic blood pressure level and declining glomerular filtration rate (R2 = 0.25). Fractional shortening was within normal range at baseline, 42 +/- 1 vs. 41 +/- 1% with nisoldipine and lisinopril, respectively, and did not change during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Antihypertensive treatment with nisoldipine or lisinopril to bring diastolic blood pressure level within the normal target range does not hinder a rise in LVMI in type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy.     

甘油三酯/胱抑素C比值联合3项指标对糖尿病肾病的诊断价值

目的:探讨甘油三酯/胱抑素C（TG/Cys-C）比值联合糖尿病视网膜病变、糖尿病病程、收缩压3项指标对糖尿病肾病（DKD）的诊断及鉴别诊断价值。方法:回顾性分析2013年1月至2021年2月徐州市4家三甲医院肾脏病科已行肾活检的2型糖尿病合并肾损伤患者的临床资料。根据肾脏病理分型分为DKD组（51例）和非糖尿病肾病（N...     

Management of uncontrolled hypertension in a nurse-led clinic compared with conventional care for patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of a nurse-led hypertension clinic with conventional community care in general practice in the management of uncontrolled hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied 120 men and women outpatient attendees (61% non-Caucasian) with type 2 diabetes and a seated blood pressure (BP) >or=140/80 mmHg. All patients were being treated for hypertension, and 71% had increased urinary albumin excretion (UAE). Patients were allocated to either a nurse-led hypertension clinic or conventional primary care. The primary outcome measure was a change in systolic BP. Secondary outcome measures were total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total triglycerides, HbA(1c), UAE, serum creatinine, and changes in absolute stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk scores. RESULTS: The mean (95% CI) difference in the decrement of systolic BP was 12.6 mmHg (5.9-19.3) (P = 0.000) in favor of the nurse-led group, whose patients were three times more likely to a reach target systolic BP <140 mmHg compared with conventional care (P = 0.003). A significant fall in 10-year CHD (P = 0.004) and stroke risk (P = 0.000) scores occurred only in the nurse-led group. There were no significant differences in the reduction of diastolic BP or any of the other secondary outcome measures at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional care, a nurse-led hypertension clinic is a more effective intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes and uncontrolled hypertension. A target systolic BP <140 mmHg is more readily achieved and may be associated with significant reductions in 10-year cardiovascular disease risk scores.     

Usefulness of home blood pressure measurement in the morning in type 2 diabetic patients

OBJECTIVE: Recently, repeated home blood pressure (HBP) measurements in the morning for a long period have been shown to have a stronger predictive power for mortality in patients with hypertension than occasional casual/clinic blood pressure (CBP) measurements. We studied whether HBP in the morning in type 2 diabetic patients is useful for prediction of diabetic complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The occurrence of diabetic complications (nephropathy, retinopathy, coronary heart disease [CHD], and cerebrovascular disease [CVD]) were examined in relation to morning HBP as well as to CBP in 170 type 2 diabetic patients treated with antidiabetic and antihypertensive drugs. Blood pressure was measured at the clinic during the day and at home after awakening in the morning. Clinic hypertension (CH) and morning hypertension (MH) were defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or =130 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > or =85 mmHg. The relation of CH and MH to the prevalence of these events was examined. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the prevalence of nephropathy, retinopathy, CHD, and CVD between the two groups with (n = 131) and without CH (n = 39), whereas the prevalences of these events in the patients with MH (n = 97) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in those without MH (n = 73). The prevalence of nephropathy was highly associated with systolic MH. CONCLUSIONS: Elevations of HBP in the morning in diabetic patients are strongly related to microvascular and macrovascular complications, especially nephropathy. It is concluded that the control of MH may prevent vascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients.     

Low-dose ramipril reduces microalbuminuria in type 1 diabetic patients without hypertension: results of a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To assess if low (1.25 mg) and/or standard (5 mg) doses of the ACE inhibitor ramipril could prevent progression of microalbuminuria (incipient diabetic nephropathy) in normotensive type 1 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study, using a multicenter randomized placebo-controlled double-blind parallel group, was conducted over 2 years in 28 outpatient diabetic clinics in the U.K. and Ireland. We screened 334 type 1 diabetic patients with suspected microalbuminuria and normal blood pressure; of these, 140 patients 18-65 years of age with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and persistent microalbuminuria, defined as urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) of 20-200 microg/min, were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: The proportion of patients progressing to macroalbuminuria was reduced in the ramipril groups but did not reach statistical significance over 2 years. AER was significantly lower at year 2 in the combined ramipril-treated patients versus placebo (P = 0.013). More patients on ramipril regressed to normoalbuminuria (<20 microg/min), with 11% for 1.25 mg ramipril, 20% for 5 mg ramipril, and 4% for placebo (P = 0.053). Blood pressure was significantly reduced to a similar extent with both 1.25 and 5 mg ramipril. Supine systolic blood pressure increased from 130 to 134 mmHg in the placebo group and fell in the 1.25 mg ramipril group (from 132 to 129 mmHg) and in the 5 mg ramipril group (from 134 to 130 mmHg) (P = 0.003, compared with placebo). No statistically significant changes were observed in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between the placebo- and ramipril-treated groups during the 2-year period. CONCLUSIONS: Microalbuminuria is reduced significantly by ramipril treatment in type 1 diabetic patients without hypertension. Although the magnitude of the response was greater, there is no significant difference between responses to 1.25 or 5 mg ramipril. Small but highly significant reductions in systolic and mean arterial pressures occur in ramipril-treated patients. GFR is stable at this stage of the evolution of diabetic nephropathy and is unaffected by ramipril treatment for 2 years.     

Risk factors of diabetic nephropathy progression in patients with a long history of diabetic mellitus as shown by a retrospective analysis

AIM: To ascertain prognostic factors defining the risk of progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 and 2 suffering from DM over 20 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A one-stage comparative trial studied 141 patients with DM type 1 and 149 patients with DM type 2 with DN of different severity and 20 year history of the disease. The follow-up study covered 34 CD-1 patients and 45 CD-2 patients with normo-, micro- and macroalbuminuria. The groups were made by the principle case-control. The control group consisted of 24 patients with DM-1 and 19 patients with DM-2 having stable renal function, the case group consisted of 10 and 26 patients, respectively, with DN progression. A total duration of the follow-up was 6 years. The end point of the analysis was chronic renal failure (CRF). RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis has shown that the following risk factors of microalbuminuria in DM-1 and DM-2 are independent: the level of HbA1c (RR 3,1 and 2.7, respectively) and duration of arterial hypertension (RR 2.1 and 2.0, respectively); proteinuria - HbA1c (RR 4.4 and 3.4, respectively), systolic blood pressure (RR 3.4 and 3.1, respectively), CRF - systolic blood pressure (RR 5.0 and 4.5, respectively), triglycerides (RR 2.8 and 4.9, respectively) and hemoglobin (RR 3.3 and 5.3, respectively). IN DM-2 other risk factors of CRF were male sex (RR 2.0), family history of hypertension (RR 3.8) and 24-h proteinuria > 2 g (RR 6.7). CONCLUSION: Inadequate compensation of carbohydrate metabolism (HbA1c), arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia are main risk factors of MAU and its progression to proteinuria in DM patients. In progression of DN to CRF main risk factors are hypertension, dyslipidemia and severity of anemia.     

Lipid and blood pressure treatment goals for type 1 diabetes: 10-year incidence data from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study

OBJECTIVE--Subjects with type 1 diabetes are at high risk for many long-term complications, including early mortality and coronary artery disease (CAD). Few data are available on which to base goal levels for two major risk factors, namely blood pressure and lipid/lipoproteins. The objective of this study was to determine at which levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure the relative risks of type 1 diabetic complications increase significantly. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Observational prospective study of 589 patients with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes (<17 years) aged > or =18 years at baseline; 10-year incidence of mortality, CAD, lower-extremity arterial disease, proliferative retinopathy, distal symmetric polyneuropathy, and overt nephropathy. Relative risks were determined using traditional groupings of blood pressure and lipid/lipoproteins, measured at baseline, using the lowest groupings (<100 mg/dl [2.6 mmol/l] LDL cholesterol, <45 mg/dl [1.1 mmol/l] HDL cholesterol, <100 mg/dl [1.1 mmol/l] triglycerides, <110 mmHg systolic blood pressure, and <80 mmHg diastolic blood pressure) as reference. Adjustments for age, sex, and glycemic control were examined. RESULTS--Driven mainly by strong relationships (RR range 1.8-12.1) with mortality, CAD, and overt nephropathy, suggested goal levels are as follows: LDL cholesterol <100 mg/dl (2.6 mmol/l), HDL cholesterol >45 mg/dl (1.1 mmol/l), triglycerides <150 mg/dl (1.7 mmol/l), systolic blood pressure <120 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure <80 mmHG: Age, sex, and glycemic control had little influence on these goals. CONCLUSIONS--Although observational in nature, these data strongly support the case for vigorous control of lipid levels and blood pressure in patients with type 1 diabetes.     

2型糖尿病患者发生糖尿病肾病的相关因素分析

目的探讨2型糖尿病患者糖尿病肾病发生的相关因素。方法采取回顾性分析方法选取2008年1月1日至2012年12月31日间门诊的868例2型糖尿病患者,按尿微量白蛋白(MAU)水平分成两组:无糖尿病肾病组和糖尿病肾病组,对两组患者的临床数据进行比较。结果①868例2型糖尿病患者中糖尿病肾病250例,占28.8%。②两组间年龄、病程、体重指数(BMI)、收缩压、舒张压、空腹血糖、餐后2小时血糖、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、空腹胰岛素、胰岛素抵抗指数,胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、尿酸(UA)差异具有统计学意义。③Logistic回归分析结果提示:糖尿病肾病与BMI、收缩压、空腹血糖、HbA1c、TG、UA相关。结论 2型糖尿病患者应综合控制体重、血压、血糖、血脂、UA,改善代谢紊乱情况,利于糖尿病肾病的防治。     

Angiotensin receptor antagonists in patients with nephropathy due to type 2 diabetes

In the past few years diabetes has become the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in all Western countries. A correlation between blood pressure and rate of progression in diabetic nephropathy was noted very early, and increased local activity of the renin angiotensin system was identified as a major pathophysiological mechanism for proteinuria and nephrosclerosis in diabetic patients. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to slow progression of nephropathy in type 1 diabetic patients. The majority of diabetic patients with nephropathy, however, are suffering from type 2 diabetes and until last year there was no convincing evidence of ACE inhibitors being able to slow progression in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy. Three new studies now fill this gap, showing that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are nephroprotective in patients with type 2 diabetes, independently of blood pressure. This review provides an in-depth discussion of the results of these studies and provides recommendations for patient management.     

Angiotensin receptor antagonists in patients with nephropathy due to type 2 diabetes

In the past few years diabetes has become the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in all Western countries. A correlation between blood pressure and rate of progression in diabetic nephropathy was noted very early, and increased local activity of the renin angiotensin system was identified as a major pathophysiological mechanism for proteinuria and nephrosclerosis in diabetic patients. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to slow progression of nephropathy in type 1 diabetic patients. The majority of diabetic patients with nephropathy, however, are suffering from type 2 diabetes and until last year there was no convincing evidence of ACE inhibitors being able to slow progression in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy. Three new studies now fill this gap, showing that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are nephroprotective in patients with type 2 diabetes, independently of blood pressure. This review provides an in-depth discussion of the results of these studies and provides recommendations for patient management.     

2型糖尿病患者的血脂指标与糖尿病肾病的相关性研究

目的:分析2型糖尿病患者血脂指标与糖尿病肾病的相关性。方法:选择2011年6月—2013年7月收治的2型糖尿病患者240例,其中合并糖尿病肾病的患者100例,无并发症的患者140例。比较2组患者的性别、年龄、糖尿病病程、血压、基线空腹血糖、糖化血红蛋白以及各项血脂指标,采用Logistic回归模型分析各因素与糖尿病肾病关联的比值比(odds ratio,OR)及95%可信区间(confidence interval,CI)。结果:2组患者的年龄、病程、收缩压差异均有统计学意义(P0.01)。Logistic回归模型显示,年龄70岁(OR=2.92,95%CI:1.31~6.51)、病程10年(OR=3.33,95%CI:1.79~6.16)、舒张压90mmHg(OR=2.23,95%CI:1.06~4.69)、低密度脂蛋白3.64 mmol/L(OR=2.85,95%CI:1.16~7.03)为2型糖尿病合并糖尿病肾病的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论:低密度脂蛋白有可能作为2型糖尿病合并糖尿病肾病的预测指标和防治靶点。     

2型糖尿病患者糖尿病外周血管病变检出率及其相关危险因素分析

【目的】探讨2型糖尿病患者糖尿病外周血管病变（PAD）的检出率及相关危险因素。【方法】520例45岁以上的住院2型糖尿病患者,根据踝肱指数（ABI）比值大小分别为ABI〈0．9的PAD组101例、ABI≥0．9非PAD组419例,比较可能诱发PAD的危险因素。【结果】患者合并PAD占总数的19．4％。年龄、糖尿病病程、收缩压（SBP）、尿素氮（BUN）、肌酐（Cr）、尿微量白蛋白、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL—C）及高血压、冠心病、脑梗死、糖尿病肾病等因素差异均有显著性（P〈0．01～〈0．05）。Logistic回归显示年龄、收缩压、血肌酐水平是PAD发生的独立危险因素。【结论】年龄大于45岁的2型糖尿病患者中19．4％合并PAD,年龄、收缩压、血肌酐水平是DR独立的危险因素。     

Prevalence of hypertension in diabetes mellitus--its relation to diabetic nephropathy

The prevalence of hypertension was studied in 374 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and in 1197 non-diabetic controls. The diagnosis of hypertension was made when the mean systolic pressure of three measurements on different occasions was 151 mmHg or greater, or the mean diastolic pressure was 91 mmHg or greater. The prevalence was 42.8% in the diabetics and 17.8% in the controls. It showed a significant difference over age 31 (p less than 0.05). Proteinuria (p less than 0.001), abnormal ECG (p less than 0.01), hyperlipidemia (p less than 0.05) and hypertensive or sclerotic changes of the retina (p less than 0.001) were more frequently observed in the diabetics than in the controls. Hypertension was found in 71% of those with proteinuria, 48% with diabetic retinopathy, 61% with abnormal ECG and 54% with hyperlipidemia in the diabetics. The incidence of proteinuria was 22.8% in the diabetic hypertensives and was 8.3% in the non-diabetic hypertensives (p less than 0.001). 24 subjects out of 119 diabetics, who were normotensive at their initial visits, became hypertensive within 10 years (N-H), and 95 remained normotensive (N-N). 38% of N-H showed proteinuria already on their initial examinations and 3% of N-N did. 73% of those who showed proteinuria on their initial examination became hypertensive and 13% of those who were free from proteinuria did (p less than 0.001). The results suggest that diabetic nephropathy plays an important role in developing hypertension in diabetics.     

Orthostatic hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence and clinical importance of orthostatic hypertension (OHT) in diabetic patients has not been elucidated, in contrast to orthostatic hypotension, which is occasionally found in diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The prevalence and severity of orthostatic hypertension was investigated in 277 Japanese male patients with type 2 diabetes, including 90 hypertensive patients and 128 nondiabetic age-matched male subjects. Patients treated with antihypertensive drugs were excluded from the study. OHT was defined as an increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) from <90 to >or=90 mmHg and/or an increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP) from <140 to >or=140 mmHg after standing from supine position. Clinical profiles and several serum biochemical parameters were determined in addition to chest X-rays and electrocardiograms. RESULTS: The prevalence of OHT in normotensive and hypertensive diabetic patients was significantly higher than in control subjects (12.8 vs. 1.8%, P < 0.01, for normotensive patients; 12.6 vs. 11.1%, not significant, for hypertensive patients). Orthostasis induced a mean increase of 6.8 +/- 11.4 mmHg in SBP and 9.1 +/- 5.2 mmHg in DBP in diabetic patients with OHT compared with those without OHT (-1.0 +/- 9.0 and 3.8 +/- 6.6 mmHg, respectively). Vibration sensation in the lower limb was reduced in diabetic patients with OHT, but the percent coefficient of variation of RR interval, cardio-to-thoracic ratio on chest X-ray, and serum triglyceride levels were higher in these patients compared with normotensive diabetic patients without OHT. CONCLUSIONS: Orthostatic hypertension is a novel complication in normotensive diabetic patients and may associate with early stage neuropathy and development of sustained hypertension.     

Increased blood pressure in diabetes: essential hypertension or diabetic nephropathy?

This study was performed to evaluate whether it is possible to distinguish between diabetics with essential hypertension and diabetics with elevated blood pressure due to diabetic nephropathy. We investigated 46 young diabetics, 21 having incipient nephropathy defined as urinary albumin excretion (UAE) persistently above 15 micrograms/min and total urinary protein less than 0.5 g per 24 h, and 25 patients having overt nephropathy with total protein excretion equal to or above 0.5 g per 24 h. Twenty-three patients with essential hypertension were also studied as well as 24 healthy controls. Only males and females between the age of 25 years and 40 years were included. We found a positive correlation between UAE and blood pressure (BP) but a considerable overlap in BP and UAE values between diabetics and patients with essential hypertension. However, plotting urinary albumin excretion against BP, diabetics and non-diabetics with essential hypertension could be nearly totally separated. Comparison at a similar blood pressure level, for example, mean arterial blood pressure of 125 mmHg, shows that diabetics have UAE 100 times higher than non-diabetic essential hypertensives. Conversely, UAE of 100 micrograms/min would imply that mean arterial blood pressure is about 70 mmHg higher in the non-diabetic essential hypertensives than in the diabetics. Five diabetics with normal UAE and elevated blood pressure higher or equal to 160/95 mmHg were clearly within the area of the essential hypertensive patients. Our observations indicate that it seems possible to distinguish diabetic patients with essential hypertension from diabetics with elevated blood pressure due to early or advanced nephropathy.     

Blood pressure treatment target in patients with diabetes mellitus--current evidence

Hypertension is a very common cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor in diabetes, affecting more than half of diabetic patients. Major guidelines on the management of hypertension recommend to start antihypertensive drugs in all diabetic patients with a systolic blood pressure (SBP) 140 mmHg or more and/or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 90 mmHg or more, and to adjust the treatment strategy in order to lower their BP below these values. The present body of evidence suggests that in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus/impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance, a SBP treatment goal of 130 to 135 mmHg is acceptable. Aiming at SBP levels of 130 mmHg decreases stroke risk, but the risk of serious adverse events may increase with very low BP levels. The results regarding the attained DBP level is somewhat complex, since middle-aged people with diastolic hypertension and pre-existing CVD may have increased CVD mortality if their DBP is lowered drastically to a very low level. With the currently available very limited trial data on low attained BP level, it is not possible to set a specific treatment target regarding BP levels for diabetic hypertensive patients, but it is important to use a personalized approach in their antihypertensive treatment.     

Diabetic nephropathy: diagnosis, prevention, and treatment

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of kidney disease in patients starting renal replacement therapy and affects approximately 40% of type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. It increases the risk of death, mainly from cardiovascular causes, and is defined by increased urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in the absence of other renal diseases. Diabetic nephropathy is categorized into stages: microalbuminuria (UAE >20 microg/min and < or =199 microg/min) and macroalbuminuria (UAE > or =200 microg/min). Hyperglycemia, increased blood pressure levels, and genetic predisposition are the main risk factors for the development of diabetic nephropathy. Elevated serum lipids, smoking habits, and the amount and origin of dietary protein also seem to play a role as risk factors. Screening for microalbuminuria should be performed yearly, starting 5 years after diagnosis in type 1 diabetes or earlier in the presence of puberty or poor metabolic control. In patients with type 2 diabetes, screening should be performed at diagnosis and yearly thereafter. Patients with micro- and macroalbuminuria should undergo an evaluation regarding the presence of comorbid associations, especially retinopathy and macrovascular disease. Achieving the best metabolic control (A1c <7%), treating hypertension (<130/80 mmHg or <125/75 mmHg if proteinuria >1.0 g/24 h and increased serum creatinine), using drugs with blockade effect on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and treating dyslipidemia (LDL cholesterol <100 mg/dl) are effective strategies for preventing the development of microalbuminuria, in delaying the progression to more advanced stages of nephropathy and in reducing cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.